Bloodhound Supersonic Car's Land Speed Record Will Take Place in October 2017

The stage is set. The UK's Bloodhound Supersonic Car team has announced that its first attempt at breaking the long-standing land speed record will take place in October 2017.

A lack of funding had stalled provisional plans to get the jet engine-powered vehicle record breaking in 2017, but support from new partners (as-yet-undisclosed) means that next year's autumn run is back on track.

Using Rolls-Royce's Eurofighter Typhoon jet components in a 13.5m streamliner constructed using more than 3,500 bespoke parts, the Bloodhound team is looking to beat Andy Green's 763.035mph record, set way back in 1997. Should they achieve that, they'll then push even harder, believing the Bloodhound to be capable of a 1,000mph run.

The record attempt will take place at the Hakskeen Pan in Northern Cape, South Africa, but testing continues a lot closer to home. Newquay, Cornwall, will play host to a "slow speed shakedown test" with the Bloodhound travelling under its own power at around 220mph in June of next year.

“This is probably the biggest moment in the project’s history," said Richard Noble, Bloodhound's Project Director.

"Before we could only see financially a few months ahead but now we can put our foot down and really go for it!

"We’re in this position thanks to the incredible support of our partners and sponsors, and the dedication and sacrifice of many people, including a skeleton crew who have held the fort and quite literally kept the lights on." [Bloodhound SSC]